The Libyan Battle � in the U.S. Congress

We reported in yesterday’s Countdown that some members of the Senate have accused President Obama of violating the War Powers Clause by authorizing U.S. involvement in NATO strikes on Libya.

On Tuesday, Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and John Kerry (D-MA) introduced a S.J. Res 20, a joint resolution that would allow President Obama to continue operations in the embattled country. Even while calling out Obama’s “disregard for the elected representatives of the American people on this matter,” McCain said:

It is time to send a message to our allies, to [Qaddafi] and to his opponents in Libya who are fighting for their freedom that there is strong bipartisan support in the Senate, and among the American people, for staying the course in Libya until we succeed.”

McCain’s sentiments were echoed by Sen. Kerry who said: “Our own security will be strengthened immeasurably if we can play midwife to these budding democracies. And the cost now will be far less than the cost in the future if we lose our resolve now.”

The resolution has strong bi-partisan support from no less than the Chairs of the Armed Services Committee (Carl Levin, D-MI), Intelligence Committee (Dianne Feinstein, D-CA), and Homeland Security Committee (Joe Lieberman, I-CT), as well as Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ).